On the evening of April 5, 2025, The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation is hosting our annual gala, Wonders Beyond Words, at the Parkway Central Library. This highly-anticipated, premier fundraising event will feature an exquisite, chef-curated dinner, followed by signature cocktails, captivating live performances, and dancing under the stars in the breathtaking Skyline Room and Terrace. Most importantly, funds raised through Wonders Beyond Words will help support the Foundation, making possible the programs and services that advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity for Philadelphians of all ages.
This year, we have the honor of celebrating A. Morris Williams, Jr., Emeritus Board Member, whose visionary leadership and generosity have had a profound impact on the Free Library and our city. In a recent 20th and Vine interview, Mr. Williams called the Author Events Series “an absolute treasure chest for the City of Philadelphia,” and shared that it was what first inspired him to become a champion for the Free Library. As an avid reader, Morris shared that books not only provide entertainment and education but also encourage curiosity, stating, “Anything that promotes a desire to learn, and promotes a desire to question and to ask, to me, is very valuable.” When asked about his personal mission, A. Morris Williams, Jr. gave this thoughtful reply: “To be good, seek justice, to love kindness, and to give generously.”
About A. Morris Williams, Jr.
- Morris Williams, Jr. was born in Durham, North Carolina. He received a B.A. from Duke University in 1962 and an M.A.T. in Education in 1963. After teaching with Durham Public Schools for a year, he joined Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh as an investment manager. From 1970-73 he served as Vice President and as Chairman of the Investment Strategy Committee. In 1973, he joined Miller, Anderson & Sherrerd LLP and became a partner in the firm in 1975. He completed Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business Investment Management Program in 1978 and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. After his retirement in 1997, Mr. Williams founded Williams & Company, serving as president. Soon after, he was elected to the Library Foundation Board of Directors in 1999 and served as both Vice Chair and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Other notable positions include emeritus trustee of Duke University, Chair of the Philadelphia Scholars Fund Advisory Committee, and Chair of the Pine Tree Family Foundation.
Sources:
The Free Library of Philadelphia, 17 July 2026, “New Board Leaders at the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation Press Release,” https://libwww.freelibrary.org/about/press-releases/382/1000
The Free Library of Philadelphia, 3 November 2006, “Free Library Foundation Appoints CEO,” https://libwww.freelibrary.org/about/press-releases/389
Blog Image Pictured Above: Elaine Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr.
The Free Library is one of the most important educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia. While the City of Philadelphia provides public funds for the operations of the Free Library, it is through the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation and the generosity of private funding from individuals, foundations, and corporations that the Free Library is able to offer many of the Library’s incredible programs and activities that advance literacy, guide learning, inspire curiosity throughout the region, and help deliver on the promise of an equitable future for all of Philadelphia’s children, families, and communities.